Reviewer:
richgoup
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July 4, 2012
Subject:
Auto License Bureau/ George Becomes an Author
The George Burns And Gracie Allen Show.
Season 5. episode 5.
Original air date: 1 November 1954.
Gracie tests the patience of a driver`s license examiner.
Cast: George Burns (George Burns), Gracie Allen (Gracie Allen), Harry Von Zell (Harry Von Zell/ Announcer), Bea Benadaret (Blanche Morton), Larry Keating (Harry Morton), John Gallaudet (Mr. Harkness), Louise Lorimer (Mrs. Foster), Dayton Lummis (Jack Goodman), Stafford Repp (The Man at The Counter) and Ken Christy (The Cup).
From IMDB.
Reviewer:
bgrauman
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February 22, 2011
Subject:
A rare example of a filmed episode WITH original commercials...
This episode indeed aired on November 1, 1954- but it wasn't "live". This originally aired during the third season of filmed episodes [there were six altogether]. George & Gracie originally appeared live on alternate weeks during their first two seasons (1950-'52). However, after the success of "I LOVE LUCY", George's business manager advised him to start filming the show, as well as producing and owning it. George agreed, formed "McCadden Productions" (named after the street his offices were located), and began filming a weekly version of the series at General Service Studios {the live shows had been staged at CBS' Columbia Square facilities} for the 1952-'53 season. In doing so, he made an important decision: he eliminated the live audience, because it was faster (and cheaper) to film each episode without one- and it allowed Gracie to concentrate more on memorizing the scripts beforehand. However, George DID screen each episode before a studio audience, adding their reactions to the final soundtracks.
This is one example of how a filmed episode originally appeared in 1954, with the original titles [the 1957-'58 opening title was used in syndicated prints], sponsor I.D.'s, Harry Von Zell's pitches for Carnation Evaporated Milk (and alternate sponsor B.F. Goodrich's tires; they co-sponsored the series through 1957), and sequences that were eliminated when the show went into syndication in 1958.
